Gold Mountain Fire Displaces Ouray County Voters on Election Day
Ouray County, Colorado activated emergency online voting on June 30, 2026, after the Gold Mountain Fire burned more than 8,000 acres in the northeastern part of the county. Eligible voters can cast ballots at myballot.coloradosos.gov through the end of Election Day.
Colorado state law permits online voting when, within eight or fewer days of an election, a voter cannot vote in person due to a natural disaster. The provision took effect in 2014, adopted after severe wildfire seasons and a September 2013 flood that damaged communities across northern Colorado.
“This provision has been in place since 2014.”
Jack Todd, spokesperson, Colorado Secretary of State’s Office, June 30, 2026
The Secretary of State’s Office is watching fires in four counties: Ouray, Pueblo, Mesa, and Lake. So far, only Ouray has triggered the emergency online voting protocol. Chief Deputy Clerk Jonathan Arebalos said he alerted local government Saturday when fire conditions worsened.
Other Colorado Counties Are Watching Closely
Mesa and Lake counties have not yet activated emergency online voting, though both face active wildfires. Lake County Clerk Tracey Lauritzen said her office set up an emergency generator and has prepared evacuation plans, but operations continued through Election Day.
In Pueblo County, officials closed one 24-hour ballot drop box in Beulah because of the Aspen Acres fire, citing safety concerns for ballot transport judges. All other Pueblo County polling centers operated normally.
Colorado voters statewide can drop their ballots at any ballot drop box in the state. The ballot will be forwarded to the correct county for counting, no matter where it is deposited.
What You Can Do Now
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If you are an Ouray County voter, go to myballot.coloradosos.gov to sign in and cast your ballot online before polls close today, June 30, 2026. This is your legal right under Colorado statute if fire conditions prevent you from voting in person.
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If you live in Mesa, Lake, or Pueblo counties, check your county clerk’s website before going to a polling location. Drop box availability may change with fire conditions. Find your county clerk at sos.colorado.gov/elections/county-clerks.
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Contact the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office at (303) 894-2200 if you believe you qualify for emergency online voting in another affected county and have not received notification. Ask whether your county has been cleared for the emergency online voting provision.
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Share the online voting link directly with Ouray County residents in your network. Evacuation orders and road closures can cut people off from information. The direct URL is myballot.coloradosos.gov.
Sources
Colorado Sun: Ouray County Residents Can Cast Ballots Online Due to Wildfire Emergency
Colorado Secretary of State: Emergency Online Ballot Casting Portal
Ouray County Plaindealer: First Report of Emergency Online Voting Activation
Colorado Secretary of State: Find Your County Clerk and Drop Box Locations